{"id":34265,"date":"2025-08-14T14:31:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rovensanext.co.za\/?p=34265"},"modified":"2025-08-14T14:32:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:32:51","slug":"coprwet-versus-potatoes-deadliest-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rovensanext.co.za\/en-za\/news\/articles\/coprwet-versus-potatoes-deadliest-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"COPRWET\u2122 Versus Potatoes’ Deadliest Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

Potatoes rank as the fourth most important crop globally after rice, wheat, and maize, and serve as a staple food for over half a billion people worldwide (1, 2). More than a billion people consume potatoes, recognising them as a superior vegetable crop due to their high nutritional value (2).<\/p>\n

However, this vital crop faces a formidable threat: Potato Late Blight, a highly virulent disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans<\/em>. Under favourable conditions, this disease can devastate entire fields within just two weeks, often leading to complete crop loss (3). Notably, this same pathogen was responsible for the Great Irish Famine in the 1840s, a tragic event that resulted in over a million deaths and forced the emigration of two million more (4). Given the aggressive nature of P. infestans<\/em>, effective management strategies are essential. These include the use of fungicides while carefully rotating chemical groups to prevent the development of resistance (2). Late blight is a polycyclic disease, meaning it can produce multiple infection cycles in one season, affecting both the above-ground parts and root systems of the plant (3). In South Africa, the regions most affected by late blight are the cooler parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Sandveld area during the winter months (3).<\/p>\n

Life Cycle of <\/strong>Phytophthora infestans<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The life cycle of Phytophthora infestans<\/em> begins with infected seed tubers, plant debris, or wild Solanaceae<\/em> hosts, which act as the primary source of infection. Under humid conditions and temperatures between 18\u201324\u00b0C, the pathogen produces sporangia on infected leaves. These are spread by wind, rain, or irrigation, allowing the disease to move quickly through a field.<\/p>\n

Sporangia can germinate directly or release zoospores, which infect plant tissue at 13\u201316\u00b0C in the presence of free water. The pathogen enters through stomata or wounds and colonises the leaf\u2019s internal spaces, causing rapidly expanding, water-soaked lesions.\u00a0Sporangia may also reach the soil and infect developing tubers, leading to rot in the field or during storage. In areas with both mating types, oospores can form, allowing the pathogen to survive in soil between seasons (2,3).<\/p>\n

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Why COPRWET\u2122 is a Powerful Fungicide<\/strong><\/p>\n

COPRWET\u2122 is a suspension concentrate, contact fungicide that contains 300 g\/\u2113 copper oxychloride (CuOCl) as its active ingredient. It works by slowly releasing copper ions, which are toxic to fungi and bacteria. These ions disrupt key cellular processes in pathogens, effectively inhibiting spore germination and fungal growth.<\/p>\n

What sets COPRWET\u2122 apart is its efficiency with reduced copper content. It delivers the same level of disease control while using 40\u201360% less copper than conventional copper-based fungicides, making it both effective and environmentally considerate.<\/p>\n

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The formulation is stable and flowable, and includes OROWET\u00ae Technology, eliminating the need for an additional adjuvant. This built-in technology enhances performance by:<\/p>\n